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After Parkland school shooting, hundreds attend nearby gun show in Miami

“There’s no disrespect or insensitivity intended by this long-planned gun show,” a statement from organizers said.

by Matthew Vann / Feb.17.2018 / 8:35 PM ET

With a variant of the AR-15 in the foreground, patrons peruse weapons at a gun show in Miami, Florida on Feb. 17, 2018.Andrew Innerarity / for NBC

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MIAMI — Hundreds gathered at the fairgrounds here for a major gun show held just three days after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, less than 50 miles north. Many came to the 500-booth expo with a renewed desire to protect themselves.

The deadly shooting in Parkland has at least one gun vendor outraged at the systemic flaws that allowed Cruz to get an AR-15.

"The government needs to do its job and they dropped the bomb and it’s pretty freaking sad," said Keith Moroe owner of Pompano Gun and Pawn. "You're damn right, I'm scared everyday. It could have been my children, my grandchildren."

In Florida, described as one of the weakest states when it comes to gun restrictions, you must to be 18 buy a rifle, but 21 to buy an actual handgun.

That fact is a glaring problem, which some outraged residents say needs to be addressed.

"It's just confusing," said a woman who identified herself only as Sho. "The shooter was young enough to buy a gun, but not old enough to get a drink."

Speaking directly to elected officials at a vigil in Parkland earlier this week, Broward County Sherriff Scott Israel drew thunderous applause when he declared, "If you want to keep gun laws as they are now, you will not get elected in Broward County."

While there may be a climate shift on the gun debate in some parts of South Florida, there’s no sign of a shift at all at the Florida guns expo at the Miami Dade Fairgrounds, which drew hundreds of gun enthusiasts across the state.

Despite heavy criticism on the timing of this event and heated remarks on social media, no protesters appeared to be at the event.

"Unfortunately with tragedy, there’s a market advantage to go up, which we want to beat," he said.

Weighing in on the call for more gun control after the shooting at Marjory Douglas Stoneman High School Bustillossaid, “With the laws that are already in place, I think that’s more than enough gun control to have.”

Georgia native Eric Willis is new to Florida.

"I don’t disagree with the gun law," he said while standing outside of the closed Sunrise Tactical and Ammo, the store where the shooting suspect purchased his weapon. "People should be able to protect themselves."

"In the state of Florida, if you have the money, you can get a gun," he added.